An increase in business rates could severely damage my business, says retailer Sally Patton...

I refer to your news story "Retailers burdened with tax increases". 

My rates in London are going up by 56%, so I wrote to my MP and asked if this was to pay for the Olympics, and got a waffling letter back. 

Apparently, it's because the rental value of my property has increased by this much in the past five years. I am not sure what planet these people are on, but it's definitely not mine. 

I am now having to pay someone to fight this for me and it's an expense I can ill afford. 

Sally Patton, T Patton Ltd, Leyton and Harlow